Damaging winds expected as storm system nears

This NOAA satellite image taken Tuesday at 12:45 p.m. shows a weak storm system across the Northeast and Middle Atlantic back through the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley into the Mississippi Valley with some thunderstorms over the western Ohio Valley and Upper Mississippi Valley and light snow over portions of northern New England.

The Associated Press

By Stephanie Taylor and Jamon SmithStaff Writer

Published: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 10:26 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 10:26 a.m.

TUSCALOOSA | Officials with the Tuscaloosa city and county school systems have not made a decision on whether school will be closed or delayed Wednesday due to severe weather.

Tuscaloosa County Schools Deputy Superintendent Walter Davie said system officials will make a decision this evening.

Lesley Bruinton, spokeswoman for the Tuscaloosa City School System, said they'll make a decision Wednesday morning.

Damaging straight-line winds are expected in West Alabama during the early morning hours Wednesday.

Thunderstorms are expected to develop along a front that will begin moving toward west and central Alabama around midnight Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service in Birmingham.

A secondary line of storms could develop over central Mississippi around midnight. The two lines of storms could merge as they draw closer to West Alabama.

Damaging winds are the greatest threat, but some rotation could form after 2 a.m., according to the NWS.

Storms are expected to be in the Tuscaloosa and Demopolis area between 2 and 4 a.m. and move to a line between Birmingham and Selma between 4 and 7 a.m. The times could change as forecasters monitor the system today.

The NWS considers the threat for isolated tornadoes to be low to medium, but greater for wind damage.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | Officials with the Tuscaloosa city and county school systems have not made a decision on whether school will be closed or delayed Wednesday due to severe weather.</p><p>Tuscaloosa County Schools Deputy Superintendent Walter Davie said system officials will make a decision this evening.</p><p>Lesley Bruinton, spokeswoman for the Tuscaloosa City School System, said they'll make a decision Wednesday morning.</p><p>Damaging straight-line winds are expected in West Alabama during the early morning hours Wednesday.</p><p>Thunderstorms are expected to develop along a front that will begin moving toward west and central Alabama around midnight Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service in Birmingham.</p><p>A secondary line of storms could develop over central Mississippi around midnight. The two lines of storms could merge as they draw closer to West Alabama. </p><p>Damaging winds are the greatest threat, but some rotation could form after 2 a.m., according to the NWS.</p><p>Storms are expected to be in the Tuscaloosa and Demopolis area between 2 and 4 a.m. and move to a line between Birmingham and Selma between 4 and 7 a.m. The times could change as forecasters monitor the system today.</p><p>The NWS considers the threat for isolated tornadoes to be low to medium, but greater for wind damage.</p>